The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.
The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable.
Because it is unfathomable,
All we can do is describe their appearance.
Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream.
Alert, like men aware of danger.
Courteous, like visiting guests.
Yielding, like ice about to melt.
Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood.
Hollow, like caves.
Opaque, like muddy pools.
Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?
Who can remain still until the moment of action?
Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfilment.
Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change.
The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable.
Because it is unfathomable,
All we can do is describe their appearance.
Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream.
Alert, like men aware of danger.
Courteous, like visiting guests.
Yielding, like ice about to melt.
Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood.
Hollow, like caves.
Opaque, like muddy pools.
Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?
Who can remain still until the moment of action?
Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfilment.
Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change.
(Tao Te Ching, 15)
Nobody solves the problem at the latter's peak. No one would dare to act things out in the heat of a conflict. The ones who would do so are not good examples, for what they only want is to solve such snag in just a snap; they want immediate returns. Such immediacy though un-stabilizes the situation. Instead of giving off sure pleasant results, it will instead put the whole scenario at risk. The idea is, when one gets too excited and feels not to endure things anymore, it will just open and even widen the possibilities of danger.
That's why in most cases, those who would try to stop a fist fight will usually get punched (sometimes on the face), intentionally or not. If, at the very first place, one didn't immediately run into the 'arena' at the very crowning of the fight and waited for the whole condition to calm down, before solving such conflict, don't you think he/she will get such blow? If he/she only waited for the people involved to calm their nerves off first, don't you think he/she will attain no pain?
Like in a storm, one must first wait for the skies to to be pacified. Indeed, patience is really the virtue.
The point is, and as what the texts is trying to say above, the 'example-man', as guided by the Tao, is patient. Patient, well in the sense that he/she does his/her caring for the good of the universe as "wait-ful" as a vulture who watches its prey first, until it dies; and that's the time it will grab the opportunity and put up the action that is needed.
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